Everywhere you look, gamers are eagerly sharing their rankings of the greatest titles of 2025. Yet, where are the disasters, the failures? It's time to take a moment to examine the most panned games of the year, based on the aggregate scores from Metacritic. Are all of these games as bad as the ratings suggest? Here is the list.
10. Welcome Tour for Switch 2
Metascore: 54/100, User Score: 3.4/10
First impressions to this showcase title were shaped by its $9.99 price tag, with many voicing frustration it wasn't a bundled game like some other console launches. Reviewer sentiment varied dramatically, from harsh disappointment to slightly kinder reviews that highlighted the charming software underneath the controversy. Despite the controversy, the title proved to be a notable digital seller during its launch month.
9. Rennsport
Aggregate Score: 53/100, Audience Score: 3.2/10
Billed as "not just a racing game," this driving sim from European developers garnered pretty unanimous reviews. The consensus was that the game felt unfinished in nearly every way, notably in a year filled with excellent racing experiences. Ultimately, this underwhelming entry was best left unplayed.
8. The Purrfect Bubsy Collection
Metascore: 53/100, User Score: 8.6/10
Before we start: the confusing colon usage is a minor annoyance. This collection of retro mascot platformers features a rude feline known for non-stop hacky one-liners. The consensus was that these games haven't aged well in their time and have not improved with age. The surprisingly strong user score stands as a peculiar oddity to the professional reviews.
7. Hunter x Hunter Fighting Game
Metascore: 53, Audience Score: 3.5
This manga-based fighter encountered harsh criticism from both reviewers and players. Issues included a thin fighter lineup and a dearth of content. Player sentiment was particularly negative, with some stating a wish that the title's flop would serve as a lesson for the developers.
6. Riders Vs Dogoos
Metascore: 51, User Score: 5.3
Hailing from the quirky Hyperdimension Neptunia series, this motorcycle action game tasks players with gathering cute monsters. The assessment was that its goal to recreate a unique feel didn't land, coming across as more of a low-effort product than a substantial addition to the franchise. Its brief runtime combined with a $40 price tag raised eyebrows.
5. Captain Blood
Aggregate Score: 50, User Score: 5.3
This title is a curious artifact from the Xbox era, launched after a very long time in legal limbo. The developers opted to release the game as an period-accurate product of its time, fully aware that contemporary players might dislike its old-school mechanics. As such, many reviews remarked that the fascinating story of its resurrection was more interesting than the actual gameplay.
4. Scar-Lead
Metascore: 44, User Score: 2.4
This anime-art action game modeled after games like *Returnal* disappointed with critics. The main issues were uninspired foes, repetitive levels, and a snoozy narrative. A much-criticized system involving the protagonist's clothing was seen as adding nothing and took away from the game's enjoyment.
3. Paramedic Simulator
Aggregate Score: 44, User Score: 4.9
Think of the strategic surgery games of the past, then take out the satisfying gameplay. That, according to reviews, is pretty much *Ambulance Life*. Critics found the ambulance-driving sequences to be monotonous, and the treatment of mental health topics was criticized as being poorly executed. The overall experience was deemed not very compelling.
2. Tamagotchi Plaza
Metascore: 43, Audience Score: 5.8
This new direction for the classic virtual pet formula turns the franchise into a town-management title. The result, based on critics, was a vapid series of simple minigames that quickly grew tiresome. Some reviews went so far as to declare it one of the worst titles available on its platform, noting a complete absence of depth.
1. MindsEye
Aggregate Score: 37, User Score: 2.5
Intended to be a major open-world action game from a ex-Rockstar veteran's well-known figures, *MindsEye* was a notable critical flop. Reviews universally panned its lousy combat, boring plot, and a host of technical problems. Critics found it to be a downgrade compared to much older games in the same genre. Among the scathing reviews, a few of positive user reviews found value in the experience, providing a distinct counterpoint.
